Page 54 of The Plus Ones
“Whoa.” I stop in my tracks and squeeze her arm.
“I didn’t mean—”
“You thinkI’mthe one who would be the problem? Not ‘head in the box’?”
“It’s just that you—”
“Haven’t been in a relationship for years.”
“It’s not like I think you—”
“Good. Because it’s not that I’m incapable of being in a relationship anymore, and it’s not that I don’t want to be in a relationship again—I want to be in a relationship. I want it. I just haven’t met the right guy for me at this point in my life. I don’t think…”
Aimee and I stare at each other for a few seconds, because this is the first time that I have ever said this out loud. This is the first time I have ever said anything even remotely like this out loud, and I can tell she is trying so hard not to dance around. She takes my hand in hers and squeezes it, and we keep walking. “Well, Rox…I’m very happy to hear that you want to be in a relationship. But what do you think the right guy for you would be like at this point in your life?”
I pull my hand away. “Okay, we’re done talking about this. Go make another baby with your husband who fell in love with you as soon as he saw you walk into a bar.”
She raises her hands in the air and does a little jig. “Okay, but we will talk about this again, and we did talk about it just now, and I am so proud of you, Rox!”
“All right, just get out of my face.”
“Okay, but I’ve decided you should definitely have sex with him!”
“Shhh! Keep your voice down.”
“You can do this! You’re Foxy Roxy. You can make anything work.”
“Yeah. You’re right.”
“Get your tits out, baby! It’s your vacation!” She covers her mouth and laughs at herself.
Good God. She’s going to throw every obnoxious thing I ever said to her when she was single back at me.
“Get it, guuuuurl!” she whispers as she walks backwards to join her husband.
Okay, okay.
I’ll get it.
I fluff up my hair and look down at my blouse and unbutton a button or two. I’m still wearing my black bikini. Thinking about the way he unhooked my bikini top has been sending delicious infuriating shivers through me all day. I adjust the elastic waistband of my skirt.
Yeah.
I’m gonna go get me some of that Best Man now.
I will reach deep down inside to access my inner Foxy Roxy—circa ten years ago. The one who knows how to live in the moment. The one who knows that sex can just be a fun and satisfying thing that a man and a woman enjoy together simply because they’re both single and attracted to each other. The one who knows that sex with Keaton Bridges will be hot despite the fact that I want to dropkick him—or because of it.
Okay.
The tits are out.
I’m gonna Rox his socks off—oh wait, he isn’t wearing any.
When I get to the Hibiscus Cottage, Keaton has unlocked the front door and he’s casually leaning against it, holding it open. His eyes lock on mine as I pass through the doorway. I step inside and wait for him to shut the door. I reach out to grab on to his shirt, but while I’m doing that, he takes a step towards me, backing me up against the wall. I now have Surprised Wet Panty Face. He cups my face with one hand and grabs my ass cheek with the other, and he stares down at me in our moonlit room with his eyes half-closed, nostrils flaring, lips hovering an inch above mine, andholy shit what is happening?
That moment.
We’re back to that moment at the wedding. When he asked me with a look—Should we?Except this time, he’s telling me with his look:We should.But he’s still hovering, waiting for me to answer.
